Good food, great wine and friends are at the heart of Les Amis in Cape Town’s popular Bree Street

Cape Town’s Bree Street has welcomed a new addition to its dining scene as restaurateur Matt Manning opens Les Amis, with chef Aaron Subroyal at the culinary helm. Les Amis brings together contemporary cooking, exceptional wine and a more flexible, social approach to dining.

Les Amis takes over the space previously occupied by Manning’s Grub & Vine, which closed recently after eight years on Bree Street. The new restaurant marks a fresh chapter for Manning, who is handing the culinary reins to Subroyal, giving the ambitious young chef the freedom to establish his own identity and creative direction.

“Les Amis is an exciting new chapter, and one I’m incredibly proud to be embarking on with Aaron,” says Manning. “He’s an exceptionally talented chef and I wanted to give him the opportunity to build something that truly reflects his own influences and ambitions.

“I’ll continue to support him every step of the way, but this is Aaron’s vision – and I cannot wait for our guests to experience what he’s been busy creating!”

Born and raised in Durban, Subroyal comes from a family of chefs and trained at 1000 Hills Chef School before building a career that has taken him through acclaimed kitchens including Michael Mina in San Francisco, The Test Kitchen in Cape Town, The Atlantic Hotel in Jersey and several restaurants in London.

His cooking draws on classical French technique, with an emphasis on exceptional ingredients, simplicity and the sauces that form the foundation of many traditional French dishes.

At Les Amis, these influences meet the flavours of his South African upbringing and the food he grew up eating. One dish that captures this approach is Subroyal’s take on the South African classic, Pap en Vleis: pairing springbok loin and meatball with Parmesan pap, tomato emulsion and a kale and sweetcorn succotash – in a playful meeting of familiar local flavours and classical French technique.

The menu places an emphasis on plates designed to be explored and shared, while offering a five-course Chef’s Choice tasting menu for those who prefer a more structured dining experience. Guests can pop in for a few dishes and a glass of wine, share a selection of plates with friends or settle in for a longer meal, with the freedom to tailor their experience according to their whims.

“For me, the thrilling part is being able to cook food that really reflects who I am,” says Subroyal. “I love classical French cooking, particularly the techniques and the respect it has for ingredients, but I also want to bring in the flavours I grew up with and everything I’ve learnt along the way.

“The new menu gives people the freedom to try different dishes and make an evening of it. I want the food to be interesting and full of flavour, but above all, I want people to enjoy eating it.”

Wine will remain firmly at the heart of Les Amis, continuing a philosophy that runs through Manning’s hospitality businesses. The wine offering is intended to complement the new menu while remaining an experience in its own right, encouraging guests to discover gems from South Africa’s best producers as well as fine international wines alongside their meal.

The restaurant’s name, Les Amis – French for ‘the friends’ – reflects the importance of human connection to the concept. With its romantic interiors and warm, intimate atmosphere, Les Amis is designed for the simple pleasure of sharing good food and wine with people whose company you enjoy.

The new Les Amis menu will also be available at Manning’s other establishments at 103 Bree Street – Culture Wine Bar and The Blue Room – with a few selected dishes exclusive to Les Amis.

Les Amis serves lunch and dinner from Monday to Saturday. Reservations can be made on the website or via email: info@lesamis.co.za.